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EC head urges halt to Iraq`s occupation following Saddam`s capture

IRNA

Tehran, Dec 17, IRNA -- Chairman of Iran`s Expediency Council (EC) 
Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani said here on Tuesday that the arrest of the 
former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein left no more pretext for US 
troops to stay in the country. 
Rafsanjani, in a meeting with the visiting Iraqi Oil Minister, 
Ibrahim Bahr al-Uloum, said the foreign troops must immediately end 
Iraq`s occupation and help UN hold elections in the country. 
"There is no pretext for continuing the occupation of Iraq by the 
announcements that Iraq`s weapons of mass destruction have been found 
and that the dictator of Baghdad has been arrested," he said. 
"If the occupiers are not after exploiting Iraq`s resources, they 
must immediately end the occupation of the country and set the stage 
for holding democratic elections and compiling the constitution of the
country in cooperation with UN." 
Iran`s former president said the prevailing conditions in Iraq are
a "big test" for the US and its allies, as well as the people of Iraq.
Rafsanjani stressed the right of the Iraqis to self-determination,
and called on the Iraqis to struggle for the promotion of democracy 
and the establishment of a representative government. 
He said the interests of the Iraqi people are the interests of the
Muslim world, stressing that the Islamic Republic closely follows 
Iraq`s developments "given its critical political situation and its 
occupation by foreign troops". 
Rafsanjani said the people and the government of Iran will spare 
no humanistic effort for the Iraqis, stressing that Iran is ready to 
transfer its know-how to Iraq in all areas, particularly the oil 
sector. 
He stressed the right of the Iraqis to self-determination, and 
called on the Iraqis to struggle for the promotion of democracy and 
the establishment of a representative government. 
Bahr al-Uloum, for his part, appreciated Iran`s efforts to help 
the Iraqis. 
He also regretted that the situation in Iraq during Saddam`s era 
was in a way that oil was not considered as a strategic commodity to 
be used for the interests of people. 
Bahr al-Uloum voiced concern over Iraq`s shortage of fuel in 
winter. 
He further stressed that Iraq has no plans to quit the 
Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), adding that 
Iraq`s future oil policies are meant to guarantee the interests of the
regional states. 
Elsewhere in his remarks, Iraq`s oil minister said members of the 
Mujahedin Khalq Organization (MKO) collaborated with Saddam`s regime 
in suppressing the Iraqi people, stressing that it is the wish of the 
Iraqis to have the MKO members expelled from the country and put on 
trial. 
Bahr al-Uloum also said leaving power to people is the best 
solution for the prevailing conditions in Iraq. 
AA/211 
End